6 Ways to Revive Damaged Hair

If it's lacking moisture, hair is more prone to damage, but a few simple tweaks to your styling routine can keep strands safe.

Aug 14, 2014

If it's lacking moisture, hair is more prone to damage, but a few simple tweaks to your styling routine can keep strands safe. Try these protective styling techniques from the new book, 7 Years Younger: Instant Makeovers.

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The backstory

Mandy had been coloring and relaxing her own hair for years to save time and money. She skipped deep conditioners and frequent trims needed to keep chemically treated hair healthy, so her hair is weak and brittle. “My mom has Alzheimer’s disease, my dad suffered a stroke, and I’m also raising my 3-year-old daughter,” says Mandy. “Honestly, I’m good at taking care of everybody except me.” As an entrepreneur, she is constantly going to meetings and networking and would like her hair to be healthy, but also stylish.

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Getty Images

Get regular trims

Stylists agree: A cut every six to eight weeks will lob off damaged ends that weaken strands. Even if you wear your hair natural, this is key, says Toni Garcia-Jackson, a hairstylist in Wilmington, DE, because split ends are inevitable.

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Courtesy of The Wet Brush

Update your brush

“Older brushes often have missing or broken bristles that snag hair and cause breakage,” says Mancuso. For a brush that won’t pull or put hair under stress as you’re styling, try one with natural or flexible synthetic bristles, like The Wet Brush($14).

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Courtesy of Herbal Essences

Prep for heat

Before you blow-dry or curl, always apply a hydrating heat protection spray to damp hair. They’re formulated with conditioning ingredients, like glycerin, to coat strands and help combat the drying effects of heated styling tools. We like Herbal Essences Set Me Up Heat Protection Spray ($5.99; 7yearsyounger.com/shop).

The next time your dryer dies, replace it with one that’s ionic and ceramic. It shortens drying time while reducing heat damage. Try Remington T-Studio Silk Ceramic Blow Dryer ($32.96; 7yearsyounger.com/shop).

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Getty Images

Give hair a holiday

Damaged hair needs a break, so take advantage of lazy weekend days to let it rest and repair—no dryer, no flat iron, no product. Even one day a week without heat will work wonders.

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The after

Mandy’s skin and hair were all one tone, so Kyle White, a colorist at Oscar Blandi Salon in New York City, warmed her up and covered grays with a rich chestnut brown. Then, he added a few toffee highlights for dimension and to boost shine.

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